Christ and the Penitent Sinners

Gerard Seghers, c. 1640 - c. 1651

Gerard Seghers (1591 - 1651). Christ and the repentant sinners, c. 1630. In this altarpiece by the Flemish artist Seghers, Christ is depicted in the midst of a number of well-known sinners who appear in the Bible. Mary Magdalene is at his feet, the apostle Peter is seated on the right and King David on the left. The sinners are showing repentance. Christ's gesture suggests that he is encouraging the viewer to do likewise. The conversion of sinners played an important role in the doctrine of the Counter-Reformation. Gerard Seghers spent twelve years in Rome, where he was greatly impressed by the artist Caravaggio and his pupils. The striking contrasts between light and dark make this an excellent example of the influence which Italy had on Seghers' style. The figures stand out sharply against the dark background. Gift of J.P.G. Baron Spaen van Biljoen, 1809.

  • Artwork typepainting
  • Object numberSK-A-374
  • Dimensionssupport: height 205 cm x width 253 cm, outer size: depth 8 cm (support incl. frame)
  • Physical characteristicsoil on canvas

Identification

  • Title(s)

    Christ and the Penitent Sinners

  • Object type

  • Object number

    SK-A-374

  • Description

    Christus en de boetvaardige zondaars. Christus als Savator Mundi zittend op een troon omringd door zondaars. Bij zijn voeten knielt Maria Magdalena, links een man met een kruis en een oude koning, rechts Petrus en een zittende jonge man.

  • Inscriptions / marks

    inscription, bottom left, on a label with the 1903 museum inventory number: ‘2198’

  • Part of catalogue

Creation

  • Creation

    painter: Gerard Seghers

  • Dating

    c. 1640 - c. 1651

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Material and technique

  • Physical description

    oil on canvas

  • Dimensions

    • support: height 205 cm x width 253 cm
    • outer size: depth 8 cm (support incl. frame)

This work is about

  • Subject

Acquisition and rights

  • Credit line

    Gift of J.F.W. Baron Spaen van Biljoen

  • Acquisition

    gift 1809

  • Copyright

    Public domain

  • Provenance

    …; ? collection Johan Frederik Willem Baron van Spaen van Biljoen (1746-1827);{E.W. Moes and E. van Biema, _De Nationale Konst-Gallery en Het Koninklijk Museum_, Amsterdam 1909, pp. 128-99, 169; his gift was to the king, on behalf of the museum. The authors give the baron’s initials as J.P.G., but a search of genealogical websites fails to produce a member of the family with these initials.} by whom donated to the museum, 1808; on loan to the Noordbrabants Museum, ’s-Hertogenbosch, 1993-2002; on loan to the Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, 2004-2011; again on loan to the Bonnefantenmuseum, Maastricht, since 2017

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